Case StudiesCustom HVAC Configurations for Custom Spaces

A few years ago, Dan Gainsboro was exploring development models when he came across the Northwest’s pocket neighborhoods—groupings of smaller homes located around shared green space. He said, “I fell in love with them. They have a strong element of community and are responsible from a sustainability perspective. I knew I wanted to do a version here on the East coast.” As founder and principal of NOW Communities, LLC, a developer out of Concord, Massachusetts, Gainsboro acted on that vision. He created Concord Riverwalk—an award-winning community in West Concord, Massachusetts, comprised of 13 Zero Energy Ready Homes that would make even the Northwest proud. “Obviously, though, the Northeast has a very different climate.” That’s where zoning systems from Mitsubishi Electric come in, and where the story takes off.

Project Location: Coral Gables, Florida
Completion Date: December 2015

CHALLENGE
Selecting a remotely controlled cooling and heating system to even out the temperature in an older home

SOLUTION
Zoned Comfort Solutions® from Mitsubishi Electric

Project Location: Medellín, Colombia
Completion Date: February 2014

CHALLENGE
Selecting an HVAC system that would offer minimal inconvenience during its installation and ample efficiency for the rest of its lifetime

SOLUTION
Y-Series Variable Refrigerant Flow (VRF) from Mitsubishi Electric

A year and a half ago, the Zangs moved into their new house in Leesburg, Virginia, knowing its HVAC system was outdated. They also knew about split-ductless technology, and appreciated its ability to zone and provide clean, healthy air. When it cam time to select a new HVAC system for their home, after much research the Zangs chose Hyper-Heating INVERTER® (H2i®) Zoned Comfort Solutions® from Mitsubishi Electric.

As a builder, Zach Tyson – owner of Tyson Construction, New Orleans – provides the best for the people he works for. This includes donating his time and talents to the Operation FINALLY HOME (OFH) project, which provides homes for wounded military personnel and their families. Those projects offer challenges like one family member requiring very cold spaces while the other family members prefer warmer spaces. When it came to planning a cooling and heating system for his own home – a newly constructed house outside of New Orleans – the challenge was accounting for limited attic space and a concrete slab foundation. Knowing how effective and versatile it could be, Tyson selected Zoned Comfort Solutions® from Mitsubishi Electric.

Natalie and Tom Treat wanted an eco-friendly and sustainable home – “something as net-zero as possible,” Tom said. When they couldn’t find such a house in their price range, and their exploration into retrofitting a house to be green came up empty, the couple decided to buy land and build an affordable, energy-efficient modular BrightBuilt home in Salisbury, Massachusetts. For cooling and heating, the couple selected a ductless system from Mitsubishi Electric. The result is what Natalie called a “modern, low-impact home that we feel very lucky to live in.”

Corbett Lunsford’s home stands out from other homes because it’s high-performance. But his high-performance home also stands out from other high-performance homes. The reason: It’s on wheels, and is currently on a one-year tour across the country. The purpose of the tour is to educate homeowners, realtors and building professionals about performance – what it means, what products help achieve it and how you can assess professionals who claim to offer it. The selected cooling and heating system had to align with that story, offering incredible performance. After the tour is completed, though, the home and its systems must live on; the Lunsfords will continue living in it. As a result, the selected cooling and heating system would also need to provide the high level of comfort and reliable operation that any family expects. Only one system could offer both: Zoned Comfort Solutions® from Mitsubishi Electric.

For Mark and Jen Athanacio, their reality is what most people only dream of – casting off everything but the necessities and living in a small cottage by the sea. Featured on HGTV’s Tiny House, Big Living, their 224-squarefoot home in Naples, Florida, was built with the goal of living simply, without worry for bills or unnecessary items. When it came to cooling and heating such a small, simple space, the couple searched for a smart solution – one that would operate efficiently and bring them reliable comfort. It is no surprise, then, that they chose Zoned Comfort Solutions® from Mitsubishi Electric.

Teatro Angela Peralta first opened its doors in 1881, offering the city of Mazatlán, Mexico, a 21,000-squarefoot, 1,366-seat theater for performances and cultural events. The theater hosted operas, dramas, civic events and circus performances. Its popularity only grew over the years, and the theater began hosting large events like the Sinaloa Cultural Festival. In 1990, the theater was declared a Historical Heritage of the Nation, and visitors flocked to admire its beautiful façade and classic lobby. Behind the scenes, however, the theater was troubled by high operating costs and subpar patron comfort. The theater’s music school also faced a challenge: its location next to the loud chilled water HVAC system meant students had a hard time hearing themselves singing and playing. The theater wondered if a new HVAC system could solve all three problems, and was met with a resounding yes thanks to Variable Refrigerant Flow (VRF) zoning technology from Mitsubishi Electric.

Eng. Joel Marcel Fleire Tapia serves as the corporate director of Body Shop Athletic Club, a gym based in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic. He said, “For 30 years now, our company has been a leader in the fitness business in our country. We serve a very demanding public.” Beyond the expected demands of a gym—a variety of equipment and activities, cleanliness, convenient locations and hours—its occupants also demand comfort and high indoor air quality. To meet those demands at its fourth location in the Bella Vista sector, the gym selected Variable Refrigerant Flow (VRF) technology from Mitsubishi Electric.